Origin
North Smithfield, RI
Afternoon in North Smithfield on Friday
Local time
12:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Smithfield, RI to Newport, RI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
44.3 mi
71 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Smithfield, RI
Brent Singleton
Newport, RI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to head from the northern part of Rhode Island down to the coast, this 43.8-mile journey connects North Smithfield to Newport. Expect to spend about 52 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of roughly $7, it is an economical way to traverse the state. You will navigate entirely via local roads, as this route has no highway segments. It is a straightforward drive that gets you from the interior of the Northeast to the coast without the need for an overnight stay, allowing you to maximize your time at your destination.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 44.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Forget about monotonous interstate cruising; this route is defined by its turn-heavy, local character. You will spend your time navigating roads like Woonsocket Hill Road, George Lee Road, and Providence Pike, which provide a more intimate look at the regional landscape. Because the highway share is zero percent, you should prepare for a consistent, winding pace rather than high-speed travel. There are no long, uninterrupted stretches of road here, as the longest segment occurs on Woonsocket Hill Road. The constant transitions between local roads mean you will need to stay alert and engaged with the steering wheel for the duration of the trip.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 295 is the longest continuous segment at about 14.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 295 and RI 4. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Woonsocket Hill Road.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 44.3 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Woonsocket Hill Road): Navigation decision point; at 22.9 miles (RI 4): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Woonsocket Hill Road
Turn left onto Woonsocket Hill Road
Navigation decision point
8
22.9 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
RI 4
Keep slight left at fork onto RI 4 toward RI 4 South: North Kingstown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 24B
Toward RI 4 South: North Kingstown
7
33.5 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward RI 138 East: Jamestown, Newport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward RI 138 East: Jamestown, Newport
6
43 mi into trip
|
~58m in
|
JT Connell Connector
Turn left onto JT Connell Connector
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
43.2 mi into trip
|
~59m in
|
RI 138A / JT Connell Highway
Turn left onto RI 138A / JT Connell Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from North Smithfield, RI to Newport, RI, road signs begin pointing toward New York along the way.
New York
4.7 mi in
|
~9m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 295 | 14.7 mi | 16m |
| RI 4 | 9.9 mi | 12m |
| RI 138 | 8.8 mi | 12m |
| I 95 | 3 mi | 4m |
| Douglas Pike | 2 mi | 3m |
| Providence Pike | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Tower Hill Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Branch Pike | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 295
— 14.7 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Smithfield, RI and Newport, RI.
1
Start on this road
114 ft
·
14 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Woonsocket Hill Road
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Woonsocket Hill Road
3
Continue on George Lee Road
451 ft
·
18 sec
·
George Lee Road
4
Turn left onto RI 5
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Providence Pike
5
Continue on Branch Pike;Providence Pike
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
·
Branch Pike;Providence Pike
6
At end of road, turn left onto RI 7
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Douglas Pike
7
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 295 South: Warwick, New York
8
Merge onto I 295
15 mi
·
16 min
·
I 295
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 95
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto RI 4
9.9 mi
·
12 min
·
RI 4
Exit 24B
Toward RI 4 South: North Kingstown
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
11
Continue on US 1
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Tower Hill Road
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
Toward RI 138 East: Jamestown, Newport
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
14
Merge onto RI 138
8.8 mi
·
12 min
·
RI 138
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn left onto JT Connell Connector
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
JT Connell Connector
Use the left lane.
16
Turn left onto RI 138A
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
JT Connell Highway
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on RI 138A
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
Farewell Street
18
Continue on Farewell Street
526 ft
·
10 sec
·
Farewell Street
19
Continue on Thames Street
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
Thames Street
20
Turn left onto Touro Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Touro Street
21
Turn left onto Court House Street
146 ft
·
6 sec
·
Court House Street
22
Arrive at destination
Court House Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.1 mi from North Smithfield, RI · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.1 miles from North Smithfield, RI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Newport, RI
The final approach into Newport, RI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.13 one way
$14.26 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.50 | $7.85 | $15.69 |
| premium | $4.86 | $8.48 | $16.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.78 | $19.56 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.65 | $2.13 |
| Efficient EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.88 | $1.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.20 | $2.84 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Newport, RI
Afternoon in Newport on Friday
Local time
12:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Road read
1h 2m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from North Smithfield, RI to Newport, RI covers 44.3 miles and takes about 1h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 295, RI 4, RI 138. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 22.1 miles from North Smithfield, RI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.13 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 44.3 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Woonsocket Hill Road): Navigation decision point; at 22.9 miles (RI 4): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from North Smithfield, RI to Newport, RI, road signs begin pointing toward New York along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Roger Williams National Memorial and Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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